3 Tips for Restoring Broken Writing Goals by Karley Conklin
“I ask again, ‘What are your Writing Goals?’ Now sit down and write them out and put them where you can see them every day,” (Lynette Hall Hampton, Writer to Writer, pp. 9) In the sum of the writing resources I’ve read, the importance of setting writing goals is a common theme. Advice for would-be […]
Finding Comfort in our Crisis with Les Misérables by Jarm Del Boccio
Do you hear the people sing? Well, no. But I do hear fears expressed and complaints a-plenty! There was trouble during the French Revolution, and there is trouble today in the form of a virus — the coronavirus. Although many are in dread of the contagious enemy, we as Christians know we have nothing to […]
Writing Down Under by Guest Blogger Penny Reeve
Last week our teen reviewer, Kathryn Cover, reviewed Penny Reeve’s book, CAMP MAX. This week, we welcome Penny back to our blog for an inside look at being a Christian children’s writer in Australia. I am a Christian children’s and YA author living and writing in Sydney, Australia. My little red brick house is about an hour’s […]
Maintaining Focus While Social-Distancing by Deborah DeCiantis
How can a social-distancing writer focus on 1) writing progress and 2) spiritual wellbeing? If you’re getting plenty of alone time, writing should be easy, right? But you’re still living in unfamiliar circumstances, perhaps removed from routines or places that inspire you. If you’re surrounded by children or other adults who suddenly find themselves without […]
Why You Should Write Your Book Proposal Now by Leah Jordan Meahl
If you are gung ho on getting a book published, be it your first or 20th, one essential component you’ll need is a book proposal. Whether you’re in the brainstorming process or just about to type “the end,” I suggest that writing the proposal sooner rather than later will help sharpen your manuscript in […]
Social-Distancing for Writers
This week has been a turning point for the COVID-19 crisis in the United States. Many governors have enacted stay-at-home-orders, New York is erecting temporary field hospitals, and American manufacturers have pledged to build ventilators and protective equipment. All of this made me wonder: what does social-distancing for writers look like? As writers, we […]
Researching for Historical Fiction in Bath, UK by Jarm Del Boccio
I had the privilege of visiting England the last week of February — one of my favorite destinations before the coronavirus situation became a deterrent for travel. I am so grateful! Since I am a historical fiction author, researching the location in person is a real treat, as you can imagine! The day […]
Inside the Head of Your YA Protagonist: What You Need to Know by Leah Jordan Meahl
Last week, I was sitting around a conference table with an enthusiastic group of writers. They passed out their copies and we all took turns offering gentle but constructive feedback. Before I go on, consider joining a critique group; it’s key if you want your writing to grow and your story to be the […]
Get Organized! Helpful Tools for Writers by Emily Babbitt
One of the most difficult parts of any writing project is keeping your ideas, writings, and sources organized. Here a few tips and resources to help you organize your next project. Outlines Forget about the Roman-numeral-heavy outlines from grade school and think in lists, paragraphs, images, or phrases — whatever helps you organize your thoughts. […]
Picture-Driven Stories: Learning to Think in Pictures
“A picture book illustrator needs to tell a story with pictures. A picture book author needs to show the same story with words.” –Jean Matthew Hall When I attended last year’s Write2Ignite conference, I went to Jean Matthew Hall’s discussion, What is a Picture Book. One of her main points was that a true picture book tells the […]